Beautifully restored antique car accepted by Cllr Daly on behalf of Athy Town

Today on behalf of the town of Athy, leas cathaoirleach of Athy Town Council Cllr Richard received a 1902 Arrol Johnson beautifully restored motor car for Athy Heritage Centre. The car is a gift from Honor McCulloch whose father, William McCulloch, had sourced and restored the vehicle.

“Honor has been very generous in the past in donating items of historical interest to the town but today’s gift is overwhelming. The car is an antique and there is only one other such vehicle in the country. It will hold pride of place in our heritage centre where memorabilia relating to the Gordon Bennett race and Ernest Shackleton draw an audience from home and abroad.” Said Cllr Daly

William found the car in parts in Scotland in 1934 and assembled and restored it to working order. His interest in cars had been developed by watching the Gordon Bennett race in Athy in 1903

Cllr Daly expressed his thanks to all concerned in locating the beautifully restored vehicle in its current home and thanked Honor McCulloch on behalf of a very grateful town

Congratulations to Kildare south communities on Tidy Town results – Daly

Following a very fine performance by south Kildare towns and villages Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael said that the communities involved deserve great credit and should be very proud.

“The Tidy Town philosophy is not just about winning, it is about building communities and getting people winning together. The overall improvement in marks achieved by the towns and villages is a result of the cooperation which is required to make it happen.

South Kildare has had a huge growth in population in recent years, many of them coming from outside of the county and it takes a lot of effort to develop and involve a team who can show such pride in their locality.

Kildare is a beautiful county and the Tidy Town competition helps to show it off to its best to the visitor and the resident. It also makes good business sense in promoting tourism and attracting visitors.

Very well done to all concerned” said Cllr Daly

Cowans leadership like the emperor’s new clothes – Daly

Cowans leadership like the emperor’s new clothes – Daly

After being hailed as the financial and political genius who could take this country to new heights, never in recent history has there been such a lack of leadership and direction as displayed in the last 4 months under the current Taoiseach according to Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael

“It is akin to the fable of the emperors new clothes how all of us are expected to see the merits of a leadership which is bereft of any cohesive or coordinated plan to take this country forward. When we look at the talents of Brian Cowan we find the nakedness of his political planning.

Economic and political leadership are desperately needed as the country is facing challenges managing a recession. Each government department seems to be working in isolation as a general plan is absent. The loss of the Lisbon referendum, unsatisfactory pay talks, the collapse of the housing industry and spiralling unemployment are the hallmarks of Brian Cowan’s reign.

Even in the current cutbacks over €30 million has still been spend of self promoting advertising campaigns.

In South Kildare the fallout from the lack of leadership has seen the lack of infrastructural development, the reneging on the decentralisation of Revenue, the lack of building of schools, the closure of Batchelors, and the huge rise in the unemployment

Meanwhile commuters who should be assisted in using public transport will be hit with a €2 a day additional parking charge at many of our stations.” Said Cllr Daly

“Does a National Plan still exist? How much further does national confidence have to sink before we are appraised of an economic strategy? Is the hide the cheque book and hope for good news philiosophy the best we can expect under this administration?

The most recent opinion poll shows that there are many beginning to see that the emperor really has no clothes and the promises and abilities of our new Taoiseach really leave a lot to be desired.” he added.